“You said it, not me,” I remarked tartly.
Mitch reached down and lightly pinched my thigh and I yelped. Then he rubbed the skin with his hand. “I love you, Gracie Evelyn Cook. I told you once that you were everything, and you are. You. Are. My. Everything.”
“But what about all of my issues? What if I mess up again?” I was feeling a little panicky.
Mitch was putting so much faith in me. I couldn’t help but be terrified that I would never be able to live up to the expectations. I had crashed and burned once, what’s to say I wouldn’t do it again?
“Then we’ll deal with it, Gracie. I don’t expect you to be anything but yourself. You’re a little loud, sometimes flaky, mildly crazy—”
“Is there a compliment in there somewhere?” I muttered.
Mitch smiled. “And you’re the smartest person I have ever met. You’re motivated, and hard working, and determined. You are loyal, and kind, and you have the biggest heart.”
“That’s better,” I laughed, my heart fluttering.
“And I love you. I love you. I love you. I will say those words every day for the rest of my life, if you’ll let me. So please let me love you the way I want to. The way we both deserve.”
Cue the water works.
It seemed that I had been doing a lot of crying lately. But they were the best kind of tears. The ones that didn’t hurt.
“Only if you let me share your Chunky Monkey,” I smirked.
Mitch kissed me again. I would never get tired of the feel of his mouth on mine. “You can have the whole damn container. I’ll buy you all the Chunky Monkey that I can find, and I won’t even try to share it. It’s yours, baby. All of it. All of me. Everything.”
“I love you, Mitch. More than anything.”
“I’ve been waiting for years to hear you say that,” he said, his eyes twinkling.
“I love you,” I repeated.
“Say it again,” he demanded.
“I love you.”
“Again.”
“I love you.”
We were both crying, and when he reached for me I fell.
All over again.
“So this is Generation Rejects’ last gig,” Gracie said, sounding sad.
I hauled my bass up onto the makeshift stage at Barton’s. Jordan and Cole were setting up the amps and Garrett was tuning his guitar.
The crowd was huge. The largest we had played in front of in a long time.
It was fitting. Because this show was the last one.
It only made sense to go out with a bang in the place where it all began.
“Yeah, it is. And it’s going to be the best damn show we’ve ever had,” I said with confidence, leaning down and kissing her soundly on the mouth.
There was the loud round of cheering.
“Well it’s about fucking time!” Cole yelled from across the stage.
“Gracie! Oh my god! You and Mitch, really?” Vivian shrieked, running to my girl’s side.
My girl.
Mine.
It would take some time to believe that after everything we had been through, Gracie and I were finally together.
Together.
It was my new favorite word.
Gracie rolled her eyes, and I smirked. “I’ll let you share the news,” I told her and she stuck her tongue out.
I leaned down and kissed her again. Then again just because I could.
“You need to talk to me right now!” Vivian declared, tugging on Gracie’s arm. We broke apart, grinning at each other like the crazy fools that we were.
“Sheesh, Viv, give the girl a break. Can’t you see she’s having her tonsils cleaned?” Riley interjected. She had flown in just that morning, not wanting to miss our last concert. She was going on very little sleep and was obviously feeling punchy.
“Well, you need to spill! I can’t believe you didn’t call to tell me!” Vivian pouted.
Maysie looped her arm through Riley and Gracie’s. “Come on, let’s go have some girl talk.”
Gracie looked back at me, blowing me a kiss. I made a show of catching it because I was a dork like that. She laughed and shook her head. I didn’t care that I looked like the world’s biggest tool.